The Gabbatoir’s long goodbye
6 PETER McMAUGH AM JOHN FORREST KATE TORGERSEN BEN GIBSON
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56 Contributors to Australian Turfgrass Management Journal Volume 27.2 (March-April 2025): Australian Golf Media; Andrew Anderson (Ranfurlie GC); Shane Baker (GCSAWA); Dr Mick Battam (AgEnviro Solutions); Gary Beehag; Jake Carlaw (Australian Turf Club); City of Vincent, WA; Nick Creely (ASTMA); Marie Cunningham (TMSA); Matt Duff (Coffs Harbour GC); Dr Phil Ford (Melbourne Polytechnic); John Forrest (Forrest and Forrest Horticultural Consultancy Services); FTMI Class of 2024/2025; Craig Geeve (Duntryleague GC); Getty Images; Ben Gibson (The Toolbox Team); Monina Gilbey (Torgersen Gilbey); Michael Haluwana (@aeroture_aus); Mark Hauff (GCSAQ); Trent Kelly (Karen Rolton Oval/SACA); Ladies European Tour; Adam Lamb (VGCSA); Dr Paul Lamble (Peak Water Consulting); Peter Lonergan (Coolangatta & Tweed Heads GC); Peter McMaugh AM (Turfgrass Scientific Services); Stuart Moore (Southport GC); Nearmap; Troy O’Hern (Mount Lawley GC); SACA; Albert Sherry (ASTMA); Simon Snedden (ACTSTMA); Steriline Racing; Rod Tatt (Mount Lawley GC); David Tease (Golf NSW); Mark Unwin (ASTMA); Tim Warren (TMSA); Kay Wilson.
PHOTO: KAY WILSON
COLUMNS
PHOTO: ANDREW ANDERSON
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n 25 March 2025 the long-awaited announcement came. Some 1340 days after Queensland successfully won the bid to host the 2032 Olympics and following a protracted period of uncertainty over how (and more importantly where) the Brisbane Games would be delivered, the Queensland Government finally unveiled its plans. After a ‘100-day review’ of the previous government’s strategy, new Queensland Premier David Crisafulli released the ‘2032 Delivery Plan’ which outlined a $7.1 billion venue capital works program to facilitate the Games and beyond. At its centre was confirmation that a new 63,000-seat stadium would be built at Victoria Park. Situated about a kilometre from the Brisbane CBD it will be the hub of an Olympic precinct that will include the athlete’s village and swimming venue. Once the Olympics are over, the stadium will revert to being the new home of Queensland Cricket and the Brisbane Lions, with their traditional Gabba home to be demolished thereafter and turned into a residential development. The announcement ended a long period of doubt over the Gabba’s future and what would happen to cricket and AFL in the lead-up to the Games. When the Olympics was first announced in 2021, the previous government said it was going to demolish the Gabba and rebuild it to the tune of $2.7 billion. That was eventually shelved due to concerns over costs, with a $600 million facelift of the facility mooted instead which drew even wider criticism. Naturally both Queensland Cricket and the Brisbane Lions applauded the March announcement that a new stadium was being built. “Queensland Cricket congratulates the Queensland Government on its decision to invest in the State’s future, with a world-class stadium that will be a centrepiece of Brisbane for 2032 and beyond,” said Queensland Cricket chief executive Terry Svenson. “The Gabba has been a wonderful venue for cricket for many years… however the challenges the stadium faces are well documented and we need to look to the future.” Brisbane Lions chief executive Greg Swann was more succinct… “The Gabba has been a great home for the past 30 years, but the city has outgrown it, the Lions have outgrown it and the venue is reaching its end of life.” In addition to the stadium announcement, the Queensland Government and Cricket Australia also confirmed they had reached an agreement for the return of the first Test to Brisbane as one of the first post-Olympics events at the new Brisbane Stadium. It was announced that following a year off in 2026-27 (when it will not host a Test), the Gabba would return to the international Test series calendar from 2027-28 through until 2031-32, after which cricket would transition to the new stadium. Ironically, the Gabba’s last hurrah could actually come during the Olympics. Cricket (T20) has been added to the schedule for the Los Angeles Games in 2028 and should it be retained for Brisbane, the Gabba and Mackay’s Great Barrier Reef Arena have been slated as host venues. Now that an end date has been confirmed, the slow countdown begins to what will be the end of an era. For nearly 100 years the Gabba has been an integral part of the fabric of Australian sport. Traditionally host of the first Test of each new season, it has held nearly 70 Tests (men’s and women’s) since its first in 1931, earning the nickname ‘the Gabbatoir’ given Australia’s home turf dominance there. Among some of the momentous occasions there included the game’s first ever tied Test between Australia and the West Indies in 1960, while it was the setting for Shane Warne’s career best figures of 8/71 in the 1994-1995 Ashes Series. The Gabba also holds a special place in the hearts of many Kiwis given it witnessed one of the most clinical examples of swing and seam bowling the game has seen. Richard Hadlee registered figures of 9/52 and 6/71 in 1985 as New Zealand claimed a maiden Test victory over their Trans-Tasman rivals on Australian soil. The Gabba has also of course been synonymous with two of Australia’s most respected turf managers – Kevin Mitchell Sr and Kevin Mitchell Jr. The famous father-son double act presided over the Gabba turf for a combined 42 years, Mitchell Sr from 1975 to 1989 and Mitchell Jr from 1990 until his retirement after the 2017 Ashes Series. Since then David Sandurski has expertly managed the ground, balancing the needs of preparing the turf for both cricket and AFL in southeast Queensland’s at times brutal climate. While we bid a long farewell to one of Australia’s iconic venues, for another this past domestic cricket season has been something of a coming of age. Karen Rolton Oval in Adelaide played host to a dramatic Sheffield Shield final in March, with South Australia claiming their first title in nearly 30 years. In this edition new ASTMA reporter Nick Creely, who has been a wonderful addition to the editorial team, recounts the euphoric scenes and catches up with grounds manager Trent Kelly who had a very personal connection to the win. Enjoy the read…
Brett Robinson, Editor MARCH-APRIL JULY-AUGUST 2025 2024
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